This translation is by Pocketrobbin at S h a n g h a i f a n t a s y . c o m

There were many people outside the women’s restroom and the line had already stretched out the door.

But Sang Zhi didn’t intend to use the cubicle and just wanted to wash her face, so she squeezed through the gaps between people and the door. She walked up to the sink and turned on the faucet.

She suddenly noticed in the mirror that her eyes were red and the corners of her mouth were pulled straight, making her look more like she had just been scolded rather than having scolded someone else.

It dawned on Sang Zhi that she had been so angry earlier that she had ended up crying, making her feel a bit embarrassed. She let out a breath, grabbed a tissue, and wiped her face.

She recalled how she had racked her brain yesterday and ended up with a dry mouth, while Duan Jiaxu remained nonchalant, and in the end, she even thought Sang Yan was being somewhat reasonable. What a ridiculous thought.

The little bit of anger that had subsided flared up again.

Sang Zhi threw the tissue into the trash can, left the restroom, and returned to her seat with a sullen face.

It was a four-person table. At that moment, Duan Jiaxu and Sang Yan were seated on opposite sides, one sitting near the aisle, and the other near the window.

Sang Zhi looked at the seating arrangement and, not wanting to sit next to Sang Yan, gave Duan Jiaxu a little shove and said stiffly, “You sit inside.”

“Impressive.” Sang Yan said, breaking the silence, “At your age, you’re still talking about cutting ties?”

After Duan Jiaxu moved over a seat, Sang Zhi sat down, pretending not to have heard Sang Yan’s remark. But the more she thought about it, the more upset she felt, and soon she spoke up, “Then we’ll cut off relations.”

“What relations?” Sang Yan sneered, “Let me remind you, the Sang family has been a single line of descendants for eighteen generations.”

“……” Sang Zhi glared at him. “I’ll tell Aunt^[1]father’s sister what you said later.”

“Oh.” Sang Yan corrected himself, “There’s only one son in every generation.”

Used to seeing the two argue, Duan Jiaxu didn’t think much of it and watched with amusement. Soon, he placed the menu in front of Sang Zhi, interrupting their quarrel, “Let’s order first.”

Sang Zhi pursed her lips, stifling her anger as she began to flip through the menu.

But Sang Yan wasn’t done and continued to stir the pot. “How long have you two been together? You’re bending over backward to help him out?”

“Can you be reasonable?” Sang Zhi snapped, slamming the menu shut. “Next time I go home, I’ll rush over to your place and beat up your girlfriend. How would you feel?”

“How is that the same?” Sang Yan replied, “Ungrateful brat.”

“How am I ungrateful? And how is it different?” Sang Zhi argued, “Anyway, hitting someone is wrong. Can’t you be reasonable? It’s not even that serious.”

“To reason?” Sang Yan stared at her for a few seconds, then laughed. “Sorry, but I don’t like such wimpy solutions.”

“……”

“And by the way, Student,” Sang Yan tapped his fingers lightly on the table, speaking slowly, “What does it matter to you if I fight with my bro?”

“……” Sang Zhi immediately looked at Duan Jiaxu.

Duan Jiaxu was slouched in his chair. Resting his head on one hand, he met Sang Zhi’s gaze. He reached out to ruffle her hair, chuckling. “Don’t argue with your brother.”

Sang Zhi stiffly replied, “It’s him who wants to argue with me.”

Duan Jiaxu said, “I hit him too, so it’s even.”

Hearing that, Sang Zhi glanced in Sang Yan’s direction but didn’t see any wounds on his face. Compared to the two, Duan Jiaxu seemed to have fared worse.

But it could also be that Duan Jiaxu was considerate when hitting people, avoiding the face and aiming for the body.

Sang Yan didn’t say anything, still looking down at his phone.

For some reason, he seemed a bit pitiful.

Most of Sang Zhi’s anger dissipated in an instant. Remembering the main reason he came over, she was silent for a few seconds before looking at Duan Jiaxu and blurting out, “Why did you hit my brother?”

“……”

Thinking it over, if Duan Jiaxu weren’t her boyfriend but just someone else Sang Yan’s age, Sang Yan probably wouldn’t have started a fight with him right away.

So, the biggest reason Sang Yan fought Duan Jiaxu was probably because of their relationship.

Thinking of it that way, Sang Zhi felt like she had no sense of existence at all.

Seeing that neither of them thought this was a big deal, Sang Zhi quickly let go of her emotions too. After ordering the food, she casually asked, “Did you guys go to the clinic?”

Duan Jiaxu replied, “Mm.”

Sang Yan glanced at him but didn’t say anything.

“Oh.” Sang Zhi looked at Sang Yan and took the initiative to ask, “Brother, where did you get hit?”

Sang Yan said in a light tone, “What’s it to you?”

This cold war had been going on for almost two weeks. Sang Zhi frowned and grumbled, “Was I wrong? I wasn’t just making trouble for no reason. And do you really need to be mad for so long?”

Sang Yan lifted his eyes, his expression lazy. “Duan Jiaxu, is your girlfriend crazy?”

“……”

“Tell her I have a girlfriend.” Sang Yan had no intention of ending the fight and enunciated each word seriously, “So, stop, bothering, me.”

“……” Sang Zhi got angry again. “Then give me back my 800 yuan.”

Sang Yan couldn’t be bothered with her.

Duan Jiaxu chuckled. “Are you two going to argue all night?”

“Who wants to argue with him?” Sang Zhi took a sip of water, swallowing her frustration. “If he ignores me, then fine, who cares.”

Just then, a few dishes were served.

After arguing with Sang Yan for so long, Sang Zhi was already hungry. The last bit of anger quickly dissipated as she picked up a scallop and put it in her bowl. As if forgetting her earlier words, she started talking again, “Brother, who is your girlfriend?”

Sang Yan didn’t answer.

Sang Zhi looked at Duan Jiaxu. “Do you know?”

Duan Jiaxu put on his gloves and shook his head with a smile.

Suspicious, Sang Zhi said, “You’ve been talking about this girlfriend of yours for months but I’ve never seen her. Not even a photo. Yesterday, I video-called Mom and she didn’t mention anything either.”

Sang Yan, not wanting to dirty his hands, only picked up food that didn’t need peeling. “If you have something to say, just say it.”

Sang Zhi asked, “Did you make her up to avoid going on blind dates?”

“……” Sang Yan looked up, his tone light, “Do I need to make up a girlfriend?”

It was clear he didn’t want to discuss this topic, so Sang Zhi glanced at him and changed the subject, “When are you going back to Nanwu? I have to work the next couple of days, but I can accompany you for a stroll on the weekend.”

Sang Yan said, “I came to see my bro. Why would you accompany me for?”

“……”

Duan Jiaxu peeled a bowl of shrimp and placed it in front of Sang Zhi. Hearing Sang Yan’s words, he raised an eyebrow and said to Sang Yan, “Am I accompanying you? Then can I bring my partner?”

Sang Zhi didn’t want to bother with Sang Yan anymore and focused on eating her shrimp.

Without warning, Sang Yan reached over and took the bowl of shrimp in front of Sang Zhi. “Whatever.”

Sang Zhi looked up in shock.

She watched as Sang Yan dumped all the shrimp into his own bowl and then placed the empty bowl back in front of Duan Jiaxu, lazily adding, “Thanks.”

“……”

Sang Zhi really didn’t understand.

How could Sang Yan be so irritating?

To make it easier to steal his food, Sang Zhi decided to switch seats and sit next to Sang Yan. Whatever he tried to grab, she immediately used her chopsticks to take it first, putting it in her bowl before he could.

Eventually, Sang Yan decided to fend for himself and put on gloves to peel shrimps.

But as soon as he peeled one and dropped it in his bowl, Sang Zhi immediately took it from his bowl and popped it into her mouth.

Sang Yan stared at her expressionlessly. “Are you a thief?”

Sang Zhi chewed the food, her cheeks puffed out like she was showing off. Soon, she swallowed and sincerely said, “Just testing the flavor for you.”

“……”

“But I couldn’t taste anything.” Sang Zhi continued, “Peel twenty more and I’ll test again.”

Sang Yan said, “Go back to where you came from.”

Duan Jiaxu, already full, sat back and watched. He crooked his finger at Sang Zhi and said with a smile, “Come back here.”

Sang Zhi asked, “Why?”

Duan Jiaxu chuckled lightly. “I’ll serve you.”

Sang Zhi blinked and obediently got up to return to her seat.

“……” When he heard the word ‘serve’, Sang Yan’s mouth twitched as he pulled off his gloves. “You two dating is really disgusting.”

After dinner, Duan Jiaxu went to pay the bill. Then the three of them walked out of the restaurant.

Sang Yan took out Duan Jiaxu’s car keys from his pocket, yawning. “I’m heading back. You two can do whatever you want.”

There was always a feeling that Sang Yan, having come all the way to an unfamiliar city, might feel lonely, pitiful, and helpless, so Sang Zhi didn’t want to leave him alone. “Brother, how about we go watch a movie?”

“Me, with you two?” Sang Yan asked sleepily. “Is there something wrong with my head?”

Sang Zhi looked down and scrolled through her phone. “Why didn’t you say anything about coming? If you had told me yesterday, I would have booked an additional movie ticket yesterday afternoon. Now I can’t even cancel them.”

She checked the schedule. “But no one else booked tickets, so I might as well get the seats next to us.”

Sang Yan responded, “I’m not going.”

“Then I’m booking them.” Sang Zhi said to herself, “These are couple’s seats, so I can only book another two tickets. But there aren’t many booked seats in the cinema anyway.”

Sang Yan asked, “Are you deaf?”

Sang Zhi paid for the tickets. “All done.”

“……”

The cinema was a bit far, so the three of them got into the car.

Given the situation, Sang Yan couldn’t be bothered to drive. He tossed the car keys to Duan Jiaxu and got into the back seat. He didn’t make any move to let Sang Zhi get in, closing the door after getting in himself.

Sang Zhi sensibly sat in the front seat.

It had been a few months since she last saw Sang Yan, so she turned to talk to him, “Brother, when are you going home?”

Sang Yan lazily replied, “Next week, I guess.”

Sang Zhi calculated the time. “That’ll be August then.”

“More or less.” Sang Yan replied.

“August?” Duan Jiaxu fastened his seatbelt and glanced at Sang Yan upon hearing that. Then he started the car. “Alright. I’m moving at the end of the month. You can help me with that.”

Sang Yan: “?”

It was the first time Sang Zhi had heard this too. “Huh? You’re moving?”

“Yeah, my lease is up.” Duan Jiaxu said, “I’m not renewing it. The agent recommended a few places near your school. I plan to check them out this weekend.”

“You want me to help you move?” Sang Yan’s tone turned a bit cold. “Are you serious?”

“No big deal.” Duan Jiaxu said calmly, “If you’re willing to help, that’s fine.”

“……”

They arrived at the cinema.

Sang Zhi picked up the tickets and bought a bucket of popcorn. She stared at the tickets in her hand, hesitating on how to distribute the seats.

If she sat with Duan Jiaxu, it would defeat the purpose of asking Sang Yan to watch the movie with them, as it would seem like they were isolating him.

But if she sat with Sang Yan in a couple’s seat, that would be weird too.

Finally, Sang Zhi came up with a plan.

She handed one of the tickets to Sang Yan. The words ‘Couple’s Seat’ were printed on it in bold font, making it particularly conspicuous. “You two sit together later.”

Duan Jiaxu: “?”

Sang Yan: “?”

Sang Zhi gave a reasonable excuse, “I want to lie down.”

Soon, the three of them entered the cinema.

Sang Zhi took one of the seats and gestured with her chin for the two of them to sit together in the other.

Sang Yan was completely speechless. “Do you have a problem with your brain?”

“What?” Sang Zhi was confused by his reaction. “What’s wrong with you two sitting together? We’re watching a movie as a group. We can’t let you sit alone.”

There weren’t many people in the theater. Besides the three of them, only one other couple was sitting in the row ahead of them. Hearing the commotion, the woman turned to glance back.

Sang Yan ignored Sang Zhi but still walked over to the other couple’s seat next to her.

His attitude was almost like tacit approval.

Sang Zhi’s eyes met Duan Jiaxu’s and she motioned for him to follow Sang Yan.

Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow but complied with her wish.

Sang Zhi put on her 3D glasses, tossed her phone aside, and began munching on popcorn. After a while, she overheard the couple in front of them talking.

“Honey, look at the people sitting diagonally behind us……” The woman was trying to keep her voice down but it wasn’t quiet enough. Sang Zhi could still catch a word or two. “Those two guys seem to be gay.”

Sang Zhi who paused mid-bite: “……”

“They even brought a girl along.” The woman giggled. “They’re probably trying not to get caught.”

The next moment, Duan Jiaxu stood up and sat beside Sang Zhi.

Sang Zhi looked at him.

Duan Jiaxu said, “Your brother told me to get lost.”

“……” Sang Zhi wasn’t particularly concerned about the couple’s seat issue, as she often booked them with her roommates. She was silent for three seconds. “Forget it, it doesn’t matter.”

The seats in this cinema were soft, resembling a double sofa, with no gap between them and directly connected to the adjacent chairs, though there was a partition in the middle.

So Sang Zhi could only see Sang Yan’s legs, not his expression.

Sang Zhi offered Duan Jiaxu a piece of popcorn. “Do you want some?”

Duan Jiaxu opened his mouth and ate it directly from her hand. As the movie began, he stared at her for a moment before putting on his 3D glasses and turning his attention to the screen.

After eating too much, Sang Zhi began to feel a bit full. She set the popcorn aside and hugged a cup of cola, sipping it. Fixated on the large screen, she gradually became engrossed in the movie.

She didn’t know how much time had passed when a visually striking scene ended on the screen, and the male and female leads, trapped in a desperate situation, passionately embraced and kissed.

Sang Zhi found the scene touching and began nibbling on her popcorn again. But in the next instant, she noticed that the couple in front, intimately holding each other, seemed to be kissing as well.

“……”

She was taken aback and instinctively glanced at Duan Jiaxu.

She then realized he was sitting extremely close, not watching the movie but staring at her instead. Because he was wearing the glasses, Sang Zhi couldn’t clearly see his expression.

She could only see his lips curving into a small smile as he gradually leaned closer.

Sang Zhi’s breath hitched, instantly understanding his intention. She whispered, “There are cameras here.”

But it seemed as though he didn’t hear her. The next moment, Duan Jiaxu’s lips pressed against hers. His touch was gentle, giving a quick nibble on her lower lip before withdrawing.

A soft warmth lingered.

Sang Zhi’s expression froze. She pointed to the side, utterly shocked and not daring to make much noise as she reminded him, “My brother…… my brother is right there.”

Duan Jiaxu chuckled softly.

Afraid she might drop the popcorn, he reached over, took it from her, and set it aside. His lips brushed against her ear, and his voice, now a soft whisper, carried a hint of amusement.

“Doesn’t that make it more exciting?”